NEWVILLE, PA – The Susquehanna University men's cross country team is set to compete at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships this Saturday at Big Spring, returning to the course they already previewed earlier this season. The River Hawks enter the meet with strong momentum and a lineup capable of producing their best performance of the year.
Leading Susquehanna is sophomore Derrick Blair, who has run one of the strongest seasons in program history and will be racing for a spot at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Blair has consistently led the team and will look to capitalize on his postseason experience and familiarity with the course. Behind him, the River Hawks rely on a tightly packed scoring group featuring
Hunter Valentino,
Evander Lackman,
Thomas McGann,
Andrew Hilke,
Brady Ryder, and
Owen Trump, with Samuel Borge traveling as the team's alternate. The group has closed its time spread throughout the season with only 3:58 in between Susquehanna's number one and seven, and their ability to run together will be crucial in the championship setting.
Coach Ryan McGuire is confident in what the team can accomplish on Saturday: "If the team shows up and does what they should, we will show the region what we are made of."
The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships will take place Saturday morning. Individual qualifiers for the NCAA Division III National Championships will be announced following the race.
Susquehanna Entries
Derick Blair: Competed in all five meets....finished first at the Landmark Conference Championship running a PR and new school record of 24:28.85... named Landmark Runner of the Week three times, first after running 24:45.40 at Lebanon Valley to open the season, second at Lehigh's Paul Short Run when he won the Green Race with a time of 25:18.8, then third at Gettysburg's Aubrey Shenk Invite with a then-school record 24:43.0... also set a new 4K program record at Dickinson's Long-Short Invitational with a time of 12:18.4.
Hunter Valentino: Competed in all five meets...finished 15th at the Landmark Conference Championship and hit a PR of 25:50, which is his new best and good for All-Landmark Honorable Mention... he stayed consistent throughout all five meets with resulted in him hitting his PR at the Landmark Conference Championship... had a season best during the regular season at Gettysburg's Aubrey Shenk Invitational on Oct. 18 with a time of 26:38.0... also had a new 4K PR at Dickinson's Long-Short Invitational with a time of 13:25.8.
Evander Lackman: Competed in all five meets... finished 19th at Landmark Championships with a time of 26:13.2, good for All-Landmark Honorable Mention to secure his third career All-Landmark finish... ran sub-27 times in three of the team's four 8K races, starting with the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen Invitational at 26:21.6... improved at Gettysburg's Aubrey Shenk Invitational with a time of 26:07.9... turned in a 4K personal best when he ran 12:37.7 at Dickinson's Long-Short Invitational... competed at Lehigh University's Paul Short Run in the Green Race, finishing 60th with a time of 27:42.4.
Thomas McGann: Ran in all five meets... finished 26th at the Landmark Conference Championship running a PR of 26:29.3 ... Set a PR in the 4K at the Dickinson College Long-Short Invitational, of 13:04.5... ran an even 27:00.0 time at Gettysburg's Aubrey Shenk Invitational.
Andrew Hilke: Ran all five meets... finished 38th in the Landmark Conference Championship running a PR of 27:03.6... set a new PR in the 4K at teh Dickinson College Long-short Invitational with a time of 13:40.3... locked down two more 8K times under 28 minutes this fall, with a 27:57.2 time at Lebanon Valley and 27:35.5 at Gettysburg's Aubrey Shenk Invitational.
Brady Ryder: Ran in all five meets... ran a PR at the Landmark Conference Championships with a time of 27:46.3 ... set a new PR of 13:40.3 at the Dickinson College Long-Short Invitational in the 4K... improved in every 8K this fall... ran 28:57.1 at Lebanon Valley, 28:30.3 at Lehigh's Paul Short Run, and 27:55.0 at Gettysburg' Aubrey Shenk Invitational.
Owen Trump: Ran in all five meets... placed in 63 at the Landmark Conference Championships... set a PR at the Aubrey Shenk Invitational 8K with a time of 28:00.3 ... Ran a 4K PR of 14.01.9 at the Dickinson College Long-Short Invitational... made improvements after running just under 30 minutes in his first tw 8K's at Lebanon Valley (29:48.4) and Lehigh's Paul Short Run (29:48.7).
Sam Borge: Ran in all five meets... finished 77th at the Landmark Conference Championships with a time of 29:00.3... ran a PR at Gettysburg's Aubrey Shenk Invite with an 8K time of 28:28:57.5... competed in the 4K Dickinson Long-Short Invitational, running a time of 15:02.9... made huge strides late in the season after running over 30 minutes in his first two career 8K's at Lebanon Valley (30:07.7) and Lehigh's Paul Short Run 30:19.3.
